A healthy democracy demands youth engagement

Opinion: Families, schools critically important in helping young people become informed, engaged citizens

Marc Mayrand, Canada’s chief electoral officer.

Photograph by: Bruno Schlumberger
, BRUNO SCHLUMBERGER

Canadians could be excused for thinking the past year has been open season on the democratic ideals they treasure. Throughout the country, at every level of government, events and allegations of abuse of power have made headlines and cast a shadow on politicians and institutions alike.

It is too easy to assume, as many do, that Canadians have tuned out of politics. The very fact that Canadians are paying attention and responding so strongly to recent events by demanding accountability, transparency and measured action shows their passion for both this country and the core values of democracy. It also illustrates the strength and resiliency of our system and its capacity to reform and adjust when needed. Only in a truly democratic system can citizens expect and demand accountability from their elected officials and democratic institutions — including Elections Canada — in a public forum.

So let me argue that these challenging times offer an opportunity. An opportunity to channel these powerful responses in ways that create positive change and encourage active, engaged citizenship.

In this context, the involvement of young Canadians is particularly important. We need to have more conversations with our children, students, family members and friends, and we need to show them that participating as a citizen, a community member, and a voter helps ensure our democracy stays resilient and strong.

After the 2011 federal election, Elections Canada’s National Youth Survey polled more than 2,500 young Canadians to get a better understanding of why they did or did not vote. It found that young people who discussed politics with their family or friends reported voting at rates that were significantly higher — up to 31 percentage points — than those who did not.

The survey also found that young people who had taken a civics course in high school were more likely to vote than those who had not. These findings highlight the critical importance of families and schools in helping young people become informed and engaged citizens — and they point to potential solutions to the long-term trend of declining youth voter turnout in Canada.

It is tempting to say that political scandals and allegations of wrongdoing promote cynicism among young people that is turning them off of politics. That viewpoint is overly simplistic. Both our study and the first-hand observations of teachers across the country demonstrate that discussion of contemporary issues stimulates and engages young Canadians, taps into the pride they have for their country, and ultimately makes them more likely to participate by casting their votes.

So when the opportunity to have a conversation arises, what are the messages we will be giving? To be cynical, or to care and be engaged? To give up, or to be informed and do what they can to create the system they want to be a part of? We need to support them in acquiring the knowledge, interest and skills they need to hold their representatives and institutions to account. Challenge them. Stimulate them. We are all connected to our democracy.

Those realities are at the heart of Canada’s Democracy Week — Sept. 16 to 23 — and its theme, Connect with democracy.

Canada’s Democracy Week is a civic education initiative inspired by the United Nations’ International Day of Democracy. Now in its third year, it aims to encourage Canadians, particularly young Canadians, to learn more about democracy and voting, and become more involved in the democratic process. Canada’s Democracy Week gives young people an opportunity to talk about the issues and learn how to get involved in their communities and democratic institutions.

Elections Canada and our partners in this initiative — organizations that include the Forum for Young Canadians, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians, and the Michaëlle Jean Foundation — are committed to strengthening civic education by creating a focal point for positive discussion about the issues that matter to them and stir their passion.

We encourage young Canadians to participate in events like the National Democracy Challenge, share their views with their teachers and peers inside the classroom, exchange ideas with friends on social media, and initiate conversations at home with their family members.

During Canada’s Democracy Week, I call on every Canadian to do their part in keeping our democracy vital. Use current news stories, good and bad, to stimulate political conversations at the dinner table. Talk to your children about disappointments or frustrations with the political system, as well as about your dreams for the country. Show them that their voices are part of the national conversation; show them how they can effect changes peacefully; and show them the importance of voting.

And so, when looking at the political issues and allegations unfolding around us, do not be discouraged. The very fact that we are talking about them, investigating them and holding our political leaders to account shows that we care very much about and have tremendous pride for this country. If this results in a more inquisitive and active electorate, then that, I argue, bodes well for the health of our democracy.

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